Ascension

Ascension CEO Anthony Tersigni is planning to meet this week with President-elect Donald Trump's transition team to give input on healthcare reform. As head of the nation's largest not-for-profit hospital company, Tersigni has used his visibility to advocate for access to affordable care.

Many Americans are wondering about the future of healthcare in our country following the recent elections at the federal, state and local levels. It's too soon to know how events will unfold, but one thing is clear.

The American Hospital Association recognized an urgent need to provide a path forward for preservation of essential healthcare services—including local primary care, psychiatric and substance abuse treatment as well as emergency services—in vulnerable rural and urban communities.

Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson watched the election results on TV at home and, like many Americans, was surprised by the results. Now he and other hospital and health system leaders are preparing to work with a Trump administration and congressional leaders committed to ending the ACA.

Hospitals and physicians are having a hard time grasping how the Affordable Care Act can be repealed by the Trump administration without a plan to replace or continue coverage for the nearly 20 million Americans who are now insured on the exchanges or through Medicaid expansions in 32 states.

The idea is that two-person leadership teams—a clinical professional such as a nurse or physician, paired with an executive or administrative leader—will make better decisions together than they would separately.

Dr. Mike Schatzlein, senior VP of Ascension Health and ministry market executive for Ascension's Indiana and Tennessee markets, will retire after six years with the St. Louis-based system, effective Dec. 31.